Wes Bunch

NICKELSVILLE — The annual Nickelsville Days celebration is set to return this weekend, bringing its free mix of music and summer fun back to Scott County for the 20th time.

Nickelsville Days organizing committee Chairman Jack Troutman said the festivities are scheduled to run Friday evening through Sunday afternoon at Keith Memorial Park.

Admission for the festival’s music and various activities is free, Troutman said.

“We’ve got a lot of free stuff for everybody to do, it’s probably one of the only festivals in Southwest Virginia that’s almost entirely free. There’s no admission to get in, there are no tickets for the concerts, and we draw people from all over Southwest Virginia, as well as Tennessee and Kentucky.”

Troutman said he expects the 2013 version of the festival to draw a record number of visitors.

“We’re expecting more than 4,000 people to visit over the three-day event,” Troutman said.

“It’s a time that people can come out relax, have a good time and let their hair down,” Troutman said. “Through the generosity of our sponsors we are able to pay for the music and the rides for the kids.

“It’s really just a fun and safe environment where kids can run and play and have a great time, you can renew friendships.. It’s really just a good time of fun and fellowship.”

Troutman said the musical acts are scheduled to perform both Friday and Saturday night.

“We have free live music concerts, featuring Trey Hensley on Friday night and an up and coming gospel singer Michael Wayne Smith, who is also on Friday night,” Troutman said. “Then we have Raisen Cain and Daisi Rain that will perform Saturday night.”

Smith’s set begins at 6 p.m. Friday, while Hensley take’s the stage at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Raisen Cain performs at 5 p.m., followed by Daisi Rain at 8 p.m.

In addition to the concerts, Saturday’s portion of the festival will have a breakfast at 7 a.m. followed by a parade at 11 a.m. featuring local high school bands, antique cars, tractors, numerous floats, the Shriners Club, local fire and rescue departments.

A bingo contest to benefit Meals of Love, a cornhole tournament, a magic show by Joseph Young and the Nickelsville Has Talent contest are also scheduled for Saturday.

Along with those events, Troutman said the festival would have numerous children’s activities, including blowup rides, bungee jumping, ponies and train rides, among others.

Various craft and food vendors will also be on site throughout the festival, Troutman said.

The children’s activities will open at 4 p.m. on Friday and at noon on Saturday, while vendors will open up at 5 p.m. Friday and at noon the following day.

The festival will wrap up Sunday afternoon with a live gospel singing starting at 3 p.m.

For more information on the schedule of events for the festival, visit www.nickelsvilledays.com.